coburn



Dec. 23, 1924 1,520,404

E. COBU R N COMBINED HEADER AND THRASHER Filed May 24, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ernes L'oburzz BY CK! M Arron NNY Dec. 1924- 1,520,404

E. COBURN COMBINED HEADER AND THRASHER Filed May 24, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ernesi (J'oburn A 'ITO I! N BY Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,520,404 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST COBUR-N, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOLT MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED HEADER AND THRASHER.

Application filed May 24,

.7 '0 all whom it may concern:

lie it known that EnNEs'r ConUnN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Spokane and State of lVashingto-n, has invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Headers and Thrashers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined headers and thrashers, wherein a header and thrasher are combined for operation in the lield.

Combined harvesters adapted for side hill work frequently employ a machine wherein a single line of bearing wheels serve to support the thrasher and the inside of the header, the header being hinged to the thrasher and having its outer end supported I by a grain wheel. An adjustable connection is formed between the header and thrasher for stabilizing the latter, and this serves as a leveling mechanism to maintain the thrasher upright when on a side hill. This single line of bearing wheels for the thrasher simplifies and facilitates the opera tion of leveling the thrasher, and in the present invention I make use of this same general scheme of supportlng the thrasher on a single line of bearing wheels.

Heretofore in this type of support, the main supporting member for the thrasher has been placed between the thrasher frame approximately on a longitudinal central line thereof. This position of the main supporting member results in excessive side draft caused by the header which pro ects a con siderable distance to one side of the main bearing wheel. Also it increases the weight on the outside header wheel and makes necessary a high elevation of the thrasher frame. This extra weight and side draft on the header causes the header wheel to dig in, and it has been found advisable in prior de vices to positively drive this wheel by mechanism comumted with the motor in the ease of a sel't propelled harvester, or other.- wise in the case of drawn harvesters. A high thrasher frame such as results from necessity where the main bearing wheel is beneath the thrasher is a source of danger, especially in side hill work. Moreover, in transporting a combined harvester, it 1s necessary to reduce its width for traveling over ordinary roads since the length of the header frame *aries from twelve to twenty- 1920. Serial No. 383,644.

four feet. lVhere two wheels were used to support the thrasher, one at each side, it has been the practice to disconnect the header frame at the point where it hinges on to the thrasher and transport the header on a separate truck. But this is not possible in prior single bearing line types of thrashers, since to remove the header would leave the thrasher approximately evenly balanced on the single line bearing members, and for stabilizing purposes an auxiliary wheel would have to be arranged on each side and such wheels are not always available. In one of the prior machines, of the type herein referred to, the header frame is merely shortened, allowing the grain wheel to be set inwardly toward the thrasher. This plan does not reduce the width as much as might be desired, and furthermore requires a special construction in the header frame.

In the present invention, I employ a single line of bearing or supporting members for the thrasher, the main bearing member being preferably of the endless track type. This track mechanism I arrange at the inside of the thrasher, thereby allowing the thrasher frame, if desired, to be dropped closer to the ground. A steering wheel is placed ahead of the track and in line therewith and the motor is so positioned that its weight is about evenly distributed on opposite sides of the single bearing line. Thus, so far as the thrasher is concerned, its weight is carried entirely on one side of the bearing line, and to overbalanee it I hinge the header frame to the inside of the thrasher where its extreme length. will be effective to prevent tipping of the thrasher. A grain wheel is used at the outer end of the header as in prior types of harvesters. Since the weight of the thrasher and header are in a sense balanced one against the other, there is no excessive weight thrown on the header frame, and hence there is no danger of the grain wheel on the outer end of the header sinking into the ground. Also since the main bearing member for the harvester is closer to the header, the objectionable side draft hereinbefore referred to is overcome, and the necessity for positively driving the grain wheel is eliminated. lvloreover, the header frame is disconnectible where it hinges on to the main frame, and when removed, its

grain wheel can be transferred to the oppo site side ofthe thrasher to support the latter. The header frame, reel and screen, are made collapsible and they may be folded up and thrown in any convenient place on the thrasher for transporting.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a, harvester embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the same with the parts in position for transport.

Fig. 3. shows a rear elevation of the harvester in operating position.

Fig. 4; shows a detail view in section of the collapsible reel.

In the present form of my invention, I show a truck frame 10 on one side of which is carried the thrasher 11 and on the other side a header 12 is connected by means ofhinges 13. A single main load carrying member 14. is arranged at the rear of the truck frame, being shown as a chain track truck mechanism, although it may obviously be a round wheel. At. the front of the truck frame and in line with the track is a steering wheel15. The motor 16 is positioned on the truck frame at the front thereof and its weight is approximately balanced thereon. A grain wheel 17 is journaled on the outer end of the header frame and supports the latter. For stabilizing the thrasher, a leveling arm 18 pivoted to the headerframe extendsup to the thrasher where a toothed rack 19 on the end of the leveling arm engages with the pinion 20 which through worm gearing 21 is operated in either direction to vary the inclination of the thrasher relative to the header whereby to accommodate the machine to side hill conditions. The worm gearing will hold the pinion against turning, and hence the header frame and thrasher will be kept in proper position. A m'ore'detailed description of this stabilizing feature will'be found in my companion ap plication Serial No. 383,643, filed May 24, 1920.

All of the weight of the thrasher is to one side of the main bearing member and all the weight of the header is to the opposite side thereof. The thrasher, even though heavier, has less leverage than the header, and conse quently the latter is effective to overbalance the weight of the thrasher at all times. Furthermore. the levelil'ig mechanism insures that the thrasher will always be kept in upright position when the machineis on side hill, therefore there is no danger of tipping over. The header frame is disc-onnectible from the truck frame by removing the hinge pins of the hinges 13 where it connects thereto, and when removed, its wheel can be transferred to the outside thrasher frame. For this purpose, axle 1'? of the wheel is carried removably in bearings. on the header frame and the thrasher frame is provided with bearings 17 to receive said axle. Bearings 1'7 are quite similar to those provided on the header frame for said axle. The header is provided with a reel 22 having radial arms 23, hinged to spiders, 2% whereby said arms may be folded and the reel when collapsed may be placed on top of the thrasher for transporting. Two diametrically opposite arms are rigid and the remaining arms are held in extended position by links 23 Also the header is provided with alscreen 84; which is hinged at 25 to the header frame. This screen is normally locked in upright position, but when the header frame is to be transported, the screen canbe folded. against the header frame for greater compactness. The folded screen and header may then be disposed along the out side of the thrasher. resting on the axle 17 of the grain wheel. Thus, a very narrow machine is produced for transporting along narrow roads and no separate transport trucks are required for taking care of the header.

The position of the track mechanism at,

the side of the thrasher makes possible a lowering ofthe separator frame, and it-may be seen that the bottom of the separator is below the top ofthe chain track. To insure proper clearance between the ground and the bottom of the thrasher, I relocate the main separator fan26 which ordinarily is carried below the thrasher. In the present case, I arrange it in front of the thrasher with its shaft 27 in line with, and connected directly to, the crank shaft of the motor. The fan has an elongated and shallow throat 28 extending rearwardly andbeneath the thrasher to a pointwhere its blast will be directed upon the grain carrier.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement of the several parts herein shown and described may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed in the. appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a combined header and-thrasher, a thrasher, a header, connected to one side thereof and having asupporting wheel at the outer end and a single line of bearing members for the thrasher and inner end of the header positioned between the thrasher and header, the weight of the header being effective to prevent the thrasher from tipping.

2. In a combined header and thrasher, a thrasher, a header connected to, one side thereof and having a supporting wheel at the outer end and a single line of bearing members for the thrasher and inner end of the, header positioned between the thrasher and header, the weight of the header being effective to prevent the thrasher from tipping, said. header being disconnectible from the thrasher and its wheel being removable and. transferable to the outside of the thrasher for transporting the latter.

In a combined header and thrasher, a truck frame having a single line of bearing members, a thrasher carried at one side of the truck frame, a header carried at the opposite side, said header having a supporting wheel at its outer end.

4. In a combined header and thrasher, a truck frame having a single line of bearing members, a thrasher carried at one side of the truck frame, a header carried at the op posite side, said header having a supporting wheel at its outer end, said header being also hingedly connected to the truck frame, and an adjustable stabilizing connection between the header and thrasher for maintaining the thrasher upright when the header is on an incline.

5. In a combined header and thrasher, a truck frame having a single line of bearing members, a thrasher carried at one side of the truck frame, a header carried at the opposite side, said. header having a Supporting wheel at its outer end, the header being disconnectible from the truck frame and its wheel being removable and transferable to the opposite side of the thrasher for sup porting the latter during transport.

6. In a combined header and thrasher, a thrasher, a header connected to one side thereof and having a supporting wheel at the outer end and a single line of bearing members for the thrasher and inner end of the header positioned between the thrasher and header, the weight of the header being effective to prevent the thrasher from tipping, said header being disconnectible from the thrasher and its wheel being removable and transferable to the outside of the thrasher for transporting the latter, and a removable reel included in the header comprising spiders and radial arms hinged thereon to the forward end, whereby the reel may be stored on. top of the thrasher.

7. In a combined header and thrasher, a thrasher, a header connected to one side thereof and having a supporting wheel at the outer end and a. single line of bearing members for the thrasher and inner end of the header positioned between the thrasher and header, the weight of the header being effective to prevent the thrasher from tip ping, said header being disconnectible from the thrasher and its wheel being removable and transferable to the outside of the thrasher for transportii'lg the latter, an upright screen included in the header hinged to the header frame and foldable thereagainst for compactness whereby the header frame may be carried on the tl'irasher when the latter is in transport position.

8. In a combined header and thrasher, a thrasher, a header connected to one side thereof and having a supporting wheel at the outer end and a single line of bearing members for the thrasher and inner end of the header positioned between the thrasher and header, the weight of the header being effective to prevent the thrasher from tipping, said. header being disconnectible from the thrasher and its wheel being removable and transferable to the outside of the thrasher for transporting the latter, a fan included in the thrasher arranged at the front end thereof and having a throat extending rearwardly at the bottom of the thrasher.

9. In a combined header and thrasher, a thrasher, a header connected to one side thereof and having a supporting wheel at the outer end and a single line of bearing members for the thrasher and inner end of the header positioned between the thrasher and header, the weight of the header being effective to prevent the thrasher from tipping, said header being disconnectible from the thrasher and its wheel being removable and transferable to the outside of the thrasher for transporting the latter, a fan included in the thrasher arranged at the front end thereof and having a throat extending rearwardly at the bottom of the thrasher, and a motor for operating the thrasher and header mechanism arranged at the front of the harvester and having its crank shaft in line with, and connected to, the shaft of the thrasher fan.

10. In a combined header and thrasher, a thrasher having a fan arranged at the forward end thereof and an elongated and shallow throat for the fan extending rearwardly of the thrasher and beneath the same to a point where its blast may be directed upon the grain carrier, and a motor on said combined header and thrasher for operating the thrasher and header mechanism, said motor having its crank shaft arranged in line with the shaft f the thrasher fan and connected directly thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ER'N EST OOBURN. IVii'nesses (I. H. Sumerians,

C. I). Mn'roanr. 

